Resumo

TAVARES, Gilead  e  MENANDRO, Paulo Rogério Meira. Life paths of inmates and possible meanings for the prison. Rev. psicol. polít. [online]. 2008, vol.8, n.15, pp.121-138. ISSN 2175-1390.

This work is extracted from the author´s doctorate dissertation. The objective was to recognize the life paths of inmates in Espírito Santo (Brazil) Carcerary System and the meanings attributed to the prison. The Discursive Practices theoretical and methodological approach was used as intellectual tool. Interviews were oriented by investigation in thematic blocks (prison histories and future perspectives) were realized with ten interns of Instituto de Readaptação Social (IRS, Social Readaptation Institute, a penitentiary of Vila Velha, Espírito Santo state). The interviews detected some recurring aspects: low school attendance, police records prior to majority, lack of professionalisation, histories of torture and mistreatment in prisons where they were kept prior to IRS. The perspectives for future life are presented in an inconsistent and ambiguous form, since the connection between the personal aspirations and the conditions to make them happen is not perceived by the inmate as really viable. The meanings constructed for the incarceration can be represented by suffering, regret, payment of a debt, and the feeling of disrespect.

Palavras-chave : Political psychology; Prisons; Inmates; Life paths; Discursive practices.

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